MPs query Operation Wealth Creation legal status, funding

Legislators on the Committee on Commissions, State Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) have demanded to know the legal status and relationship between National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADs) and Operation Wealth Creation (OWC).

During a meeting with officials of Operation Wealth Creation on Wednesday, 21 March 2018, Committee Chairperson, Hon. Abdu Katuntu (FDC, Bugweri), was concerned that whereas OWC was under the Office of the President, it continued to receive funding from NAADs. He said that OWC was not accountable to NAADs or its Board.

Where is the relationship, if OWC is under the Office of the President, how do you get funding from NAADs? Do you report to the NAADs Board? Katuntu inquired.

Deputy Chief Coordinator, OWC, Lt. Gen. Charles Angina, said that they were helping NAADs with the distribution of inputs to the locals.

We are in operations and we usually get funding from NAADs, although we report to our Chairperson who is Gen. Salim Saleh, Angina said.

OWC was launched in July 2013 by the President as an intervention intended to create a system that facilitates effective national socio-economic transformation with a focus on raising household incomes for poverty eradication and sustainable wealth creation.

Katuntu demanded of the officials to follow the law that established the entities.

Laws are never made in vain. Whoever has a problem with the law should follow up with the lawmakers and have it [amended], said Katuntu.

Hon. Margaret Baba-Diri (NRM, Koboko), pointed out that the NAADs Act does not create a committee charged with the distribution of farm inputs.

This is an illegal body; we can say that this body has misused our money. We should see how they can repay the money, Baba-Diri said.

Katuntu directed that the ministries of Agriculture and the Office of the Presidency jointly appear before the Committee to explain the relationship between NAADs and OWC next week.